Functionalized hydantoins formation

A novel reaction of pyroglutamate (6) and an isocyanate promoted by NaH in THF leads to functionalized hydantoins (7) in good yields. The reaction involves the ring closure of intermediate (8) by a nucleophilic attack on the carbonyl of the ester function followed by expulsion of an alkoxide anion resulting in the formation of the bicyclic intermediate (9). The alkoxide anion in turn can open this bicyclic intermediate with formation of anions (10) and (11) leading to the final racemic hydantoins (7) (Scheme 3).8... 

Hydantoin formation 10 12 was shown to proceed via partial hydrolysis of the cyano group to the amide 11 as precursor of the cycUzation via ester functionality. 

The addition proceeds most smoothly with highly functionalized (more polar) steroids as seen in examples by Bernstein and others. The polar reaction conditions pose solubility problems for lipophilic androstane, cholestane and pregnane derivatives. Improved yields can be obtained in some cases by using dimethyl sulfoxide or t-butanol " as solvents and by using sodium A-bromobenzenesulfonamide or l,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin (available from Arapahoe Chemicals) as a source of positive bromine. The addition of bromo acetate and bromo formate to steroid olefins has been studied to a limited extent. ... 

This subsection examines the hydrolytic stability of cyclic structures containing a ureido link. Schematically, ring closure can be achieved by N-alkylation or by /V-acylation of the second N-atom of the ureido moiety. The former results in the formation of, e.g., hydantoins and dihydropyrimidines. The latter ring closure leads to, e.g., barbituric acids. Taken together, cyclic ureides can also be regarded as ring structures that contain an imido function with an adjacent N-atom. We begin our discussion with the five-membered hydantoins, to continue with six-membered structures, namely dihydropyrimidines, barbituric acids, and xanthines. 

The formation of 3.83 was highly sensitive to experimental conditions, and the use of previously reported protocols for SP intramolecular cyclizations to hydantoins failed. The most abundant isolated side-product was the acid urea 3.100, derived from basic hydrolysis of the ester function this finding led to the successful validation of an anhydrous cyclative cleavage protocol using five equivalents of potassium r-butox-ide in anhydrous THF at RT under an Ar atmosphere for 1 hr (Fig. 3.38). Compound 3.83 was isolated in a satisfactory overall 20% yield (12 steps). 

Addition of 2,5-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-5,5-bis(propylthio)-l,3,4-oxadiazole in refluxing benzene and an aryl isocyanate releases the bis(propylthio)carbene in situ which then adds easily to the aryl isocyanate to yield a substituted isatin with the ketone functionality protected as a thioacetal (eq 4)7 Ring closure also occurred when the 2,5-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-5,5-bis(propylthio)-1,3,4-oxadiazole carbene precursor was added to 1-naphthyl isocyanate in refluxing acetonitrile (eq 5)7 Formation of thioacetal protected isatin products are unique to the bis(propylthio)carbene as other nucleophilic carbenes added to aryl isocyanates afforded only modest yields of hydantoin products. ... 

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